Here are mugshots received from Central Louisiana law enforcement agencies for the week of Nov. 27, 2017. A criminal charge is a formal accusation that someone has committed a crime. All those pictured are innocent until proven guilty. To view those held in Rapides Parish detention facilities, go to www.rpso.org/inmates/all.
Wochit

Elmer man named suspect in kidnapping

Autopsies will be conducted Thursday on the bodies of a Shreveport woman and an Elmer man who were found in a St. Landry Parish lake after the woman allegedly was kidnapped from an Alexandria motel.

The man, 30-year-old Anthony Michael Murray, was identified as the suspect in the kidnapping of Lia Ali Kazan, 21, in a joint press release issued Wednesday afternoon by the Alexandria Police Department and the St. Landry Parish Sheriff's Office.

Officials said in the release that they hope the autopsies on "both victims" can tell them whether the two were killed before their bodies entered the lake or whether they drowned.

A family member of Murray's who spoke to The Town Talk expressed disbelief at news he could have been involved in a kidnapping.

On Sunday around 8 a.m., Alexandria officers went to the America's Best Value Inn on MacArthur Drive because of a report of a missing woman. They were told that the woman, Kazan, had not been seen since around 9 p.m. Saturday.

Meanwhile, at Lake Dubuisson near Ville Platte, a fisherman's decision to test a new rod and reel led to a crucial discovery.

St. Landry Parish Sheriff Bobby J. Guidroz said in the release that the fisherman decided to test his new equipment before heading to Toledo Bend.

He noticed a black object that turned out to be Kazan's purse, which contained her driver's license and cellphone, said Guidroz. A call was made to the sheriff's office, and St. Landry sheriff detectives went to the scene.

St. Landry began dragging operations on Monday morning, finding Kazan's body within four hours.

Alexandria detectives were contacted about the discovery, and they continued their work finding witnesses and evidence, reads the release. The detectives confirmed later on Monday that Kazan had been kidnapped.

"Evidence from the motel indicated that she was kidnapped from the parking lot and taken from the scene in her own car," it reads. "Detectives were able to identify the male suspect, and obtain a warrant for his arrest."

The search continued for Kazan's 2007 Ford Taurus. St. Landry deputies found tire tracks along the bank of the lake that led to the water. Divers found the Taurus in about 15 feet of water.

Murray's body was found inside of it.

Alexandria is heading the kidnapping investigation, while St. Landry is handling the investigation into the deaths of Kazan and Murray. Alexandria Police Chief Neal Bates called it complicated and tragic.

“Our detectives spent days finding witnesses, locating and evaluating evidence, and then were able to identify the suspect behind the kidnapping," he stated in the release. "However, within a short time, both the suspect and the victim were dead and we are left with many questions."

Bates said detectives from both agencies are continuing their work, and he thanked Guidroz and his office for their assistance.